Matt Petgrave
Matthew Petgrave | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 29, 1992 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey player |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Playing for Indy Fuel in the ECHL; involvement in the fatal on-ice incident with Adam Johnson |
Matthew Petgrave (born January 29, 1992) is a Canadian ice hockey professional currently playing for the Indy Fuel in the ECHL. Recognized as a former ECHL First-Team All-Star, he has competed at high levels in national leagues across Slovakia, Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom. Known by the nickname "Gravy," Petgrave was involved in a tragic on-ice incident on October 28, 2023, which resulted in the fatal injury of Adam Johnson from the Nottingham Panthers.
Early life
Petgrave’s birthplace is Toronto, located in Ontario.
Junior and collegiate
His hockey journey started with the Bramalea Blues in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Petgrave made his Ontario Hockey League debut with the Niagara IceDogs, participating in 67 games and accumulating 25 points.
Between the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, he represented the Owen Sound Attack, where he amassed 62 points over 98 games before being traded mid-season to the Oshawa Generals. With Oshawa, he scored 70 points across 78 games spanning two seasons. In 2011, he was honored as Ontario Hockey League Player of the Week. His playing time was curtailed by a wrist fracture while with the Generals, which likely affected his chances of securing an NHL contract.
From 2013 through 2016, Petgrave competed at the collegiate level for the UNB Reds of the University of New Brunswick prior to embarking on his professional career.
Professional
Petgrave’s professional debut occurred during the 2017–18 season with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast, where his defensive skills and skating ability earned him commendations. In January 2018, he was selected to represent the North Division at the ECHL All-Star game. That season also saw him sign multiple professional tryout agreements with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, although he ultimately returned to Brampton. In April 2018, Petgrave was subjected to a fine and an indefinite suspension following an altercation involving the Kalamazoo Wings.
Continuing with Brampton in 2018–19, he earned a spot on the ECHL First-Team All-Star roster after registering eight goals, 32 assists, and totaling 40 points in just 50 games. He remained with Brampton for most of the subsequent season (2019–20), posting 33 points over 41 games along with a +5 plus-minus rating.
In December 2020, Petgrave signed with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. During the 2020–21 campaign, he notched seven goals and added 26 assists for a total of 33 points across 44 games. The following season took him overseas to Slovakia’s HK Spišská Nová Ves, where he ranked as the league’s second-highest penalized player. He also appeared in nine matches for HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Republic.
From 2022 to 2023, Petgrave played in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in the UK for the Sheffield Steelers. During that season, he led the league in penalty minutes.
Involvement in the death of Adam Johnson
On October 28, 2023, amid the ongoing EIHL season of 2023–24, an on-ice collision during a game between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers resulted in Adam Johnson sustaining a fatal throat injury caused by Petgrave’s skate blade. Video footage revealed that as Petgrave fell following contact with another Panthers player, his left skate made contact with Johnson’s neck. South Yorkshire Police initiated an investigation into the incident and subsequently arrested Petgrave; he was later released on bail.
At Sheffield’s first home game following the event on November 12, 2023, Petgrave received a standing ovation despite not taking part in play. Afterward, Petgrave—who is Black Canadian—was subjected to racial abuse online.
Throughout an extensive inquiry process, Petgrave experienced multiple re-bailings and required crowdfunding assistance to cover legal fees. On April 29, 2025, it was announced by the Crown Prosecution Service that no charges would be pursued due to insufficient evidence to support a conviction, thereby concluding the case.
Hiatus and comeback
After Johnson's passing, Petgrave refrained from playing while out on bail, which led to him missing the rest of the 2023–24 campaign as well as the full 2024–25 season due to the expiration of his UK visa. On 18 September 2025, he secured a contract with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, signaling his return just before the start of the 2025–26 ECHL season.
Honours and awards
| Award | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| ECHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2018–19 | [1] |
| First-Team All-Star | 2019–20 | [2] |
See also
External links
- 1992 births
- Living people
- Belleville Senators players
- Black Canadian ice hockey players
- Black Canadian sportsmen
- Brampton Beast players
- Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
- Expatriate ice hockey players in England
- Florida Everblades players
- HC Dynamo Pardubice players
- HK Spišská Nová Ves players
- Ice hockey controversies
- Ice hockey people from Toronto
- Kansas City Mavericks players
- Laval Rocket players
- Niagara IceDogs players
- Oshawa Generals players
- Owen Sound Attack players
- Sheffield Steelers players
- Syracuse Crunch players
- UNB Reds men's ice hockey players
- Utica Comets players